80% of terror victims Muslims: French group

PARIS

The head of a French group said most victims of terror are Muslims and it is crucial Europe is reminded about this fact.

“Muslims are the first to suffer the consequences of terror attacks,” Guillaume Denoix de Saint-Marc, who chairs the French Terror Victims Association (AFVT), told Anadolu Agency before the start of the International Congress for the Victims of Terrorism being held in Nice.

“It is important to remind this in Europe because it is assumed that those who conduct terror attacks are Muslims and the victims are non-Muslims. This is not true."

He said 80% of terror victims throughout the world are Muslims and works to prevent radicalization are important.

Saint-Marc said his group has invited many Muslims terror victim to the International Congress for the Victims of Terrorism and he wants to rebuild the "bridges" that terrorists destroyed.

The congress, a joint effort by AFVT and Nice municipality, began Thursday and will continue through Saturday.

Around 450 terror victims from 80 countries will participate in the Congress.

* Writing by Fatih Hafiz Mehmet in Ankara